Harmony in Green: The Two Sisters

Le Pho, Harmony in Green: The Two Sisters, 1938, oil on silk, 54 x 45 cm, collection of National Heritage Board

Traditional silk painting in Vietnam was a literati pursuit among scholars and calligraphers. As Le Pho came from a distinguished family, it was not surprising that he chose to work in this medium while studying at L’Ecole des Beaux Arts de l’Indochine (School of Fine Arts of Indochina) in Hanoi. With the encouragement of his professors, he experimented with Western oil paint on silk cloth. This painting of the two sisters is a prime example of Le Pho’s art where it shows an appealing synthesis of East and Western influences that made his paintings popular in France. Le Pho had the opportunity to tour Europe in 1933 and study closely the works of European masters.

The Dutch influence in this painting can be seen in his treatment of the delicate scarves that the two women have around their bodies as part of the traditional costume known as ao dai. The figural composition within a landscape and stylisation on the other hand, are reminiscent of Italian masterpieces, notably that of Leonardo da Vinci’s famed Mona Lisa.

Even with the titling of the work, we are reminded of the notorious American painter James Whistler (1834 – 1903) who chooses musical titles to remove the narrative element in his paintings. This excellent work, first exhibited in Paris, was in a private French collection for many years before it was purchased by the Gallery.